A Perfect Glass of Wine: Choosing, Serving, and Enjoying

Book Description

Many people see the enjoyment of wine as an intimidating and complicated matter, requiring a mastery of arcane rules and rituals. In fact, there's no more to it than putting each wine to the ultimate test: Does it taste good? Wine writer Brian St. Pierre's book begins by introducing the basic flavors of the several grape varieties used in making wines around the world. Once those are understood, all the rest flows smoothly--what distinguishes the colors and types, how to match wine with food, how to store and serve it, and even how much to spend on a bottle. St. Pierre's sensible approach combined with stunning photographs and elegant maps of the world's great wine-growing regions make this the perfect no-nonsense guide or lovely gift for anyone who wants to learn to understand, appreciate, and, above all, fully enjoy the fruit of the vine.

Customer Reviews:

Dated, but still quite enjoyable.......2005-06-26

You can't throw a wine cork without finding a book written for wine newbies. There's plenty of information for someone wholly new to the subject. What's harder to find is a book for someone like me, who knows the general differences between grape varieties but is far from confident in ordering or picking a bottle for dinner.

Despite its age -- this book dates from 1996 -- A Perfect Glass of Wine does the job. St. Pierre covers each grape variety in detail (5 or 6 pages), as well as a worthwhile section on choosing glassware and accessories (corkscrews and decanters). You'll also find lots of pretty photos, though they add no illumination to the text.

The book is entertaining for the anecdotes (such as a story about the Rhone Rangers, fans of Rhone wines). However, it's especially educational for people who want more than a description of riesling's acidity or even which dishes work well with it (the author recommends cold, cracked Dungeness crab and sourdough, for instance).

St. Pierre includes these, but what I found most valuable was his unabashed opinions about wines from each geography. For instance, still in the riesling section, he says, "California has had success with both styles, but not enough . . . They had great fun challenging Germany's best, but consumers, not sure of what they were getting when they bought a bottle, opted out."

The writing is often simply great, including quotes that make the wine business seem personal ("As Dan Duckhorn, one of the prime [Merlot] movers, later said wryly, 'We had a steep experience curve.'"). And he explains the variations in, say, Merlot, in terms understandable to a not-quite-beginner.

You DO have to keep in mind that the book is dated. From the text, it's evident that the pinot-grigio-everywhere craze hadn't quite taken off when this was written. But so what? I really enjoyed this book, and I think you will, too.

Fruits of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing and Using

Average customer rating:

Wonderful pictures, Well done book!

Fruits of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing and Using
Kate Whiteman
Manufacturer: Southwater
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fruits | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1842151452

Book Description

The only reference book on identifying, preparing, preserving and cooking with fruits that you will ever need.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful pictures, Well done book!.......2004-10-04

This book is very well done, well laid out and the quality of the graphics are absolutely amazing. A great companion to have if your profession or hobby calls for baking, cooking, etc. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I find a few fruits missing from the book. Granted some of these are unusual fruits, but thats the reason to buy a book like this. No regrets buying it whatsoever, but I wish it had fruits, such as: Guarana

How to Match Food and Wine: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing Wine to Go With Food (Mitchell Beazley Wine Made Easy)

Average customer rating:

Excellent !!

How to Match Food and Wine: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing Wine to Go With Food (Mitchell Beazley Wine Made Easy)
Fiona Beckett
Manufacturer: Mitchell Beazley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Spirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Food & Wine: Pairing Made Simple
Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier's Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food
The Renaissance Guide to Wine and Food Pairing
What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea - Even Water - Based on Expert Advice from America's Best Sommeliers
The Wine Lover's Cookbook: Great Recipes for the Perfect Glass of Wine

ASIN: 1840005769

Book Description

Here’s an indispensable companion for anyone who likes to indulge in that just-right mix of delicious wine and fabulous food. Fiona Beckett is one of the UK’s most respected authorities on how to pair up these two pleasures of life, and in this practical, compact guide she matches a multitude of dishes—from soups to seafood, chorizo to chocolate—to a variety of wines in all price brackets. Whatever you like to eat, Beckett lets you into the secrets of picking the perfect glass to go with it.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent !!.......2005-09-05

Great book if your interested in what wine goes with what type of food.

The Hog Island Oyster Lover's Cookbook: A Guide to Choosing and Savoring Oysters, with 40 Recipes

Average customer rating:

Excellent Cookbook

The Hog Island Oyster Lover's Cookbook: A Guide to Choosing and Savoring Oysters, with 40 Recipes
Jairemarie Pomo
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Oysters: A Culinary Celebration with 185 Recipes
A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur's Guide to Oyster Eating in North America
Oysters
My Italian Garden: More than 125 Seasonal Recipes from a Garden Inspired by Italy
Heaven on the Half Shell: The Story of the Northwest's Love Affair with the Oyster

ASIN: 1580087353

Book Description

Seductive but standoffish, oysters ask that you get to know them a little before you can really enjoy them. How do you choose from among the dozens of varieties? How do you handle, shuck, and store them? Are they better cooked or raw? And are they really an aphrodisiac? Full of alluring recipes from topflight chefs, plus tasting notes and wine- and beer-pairing tips, the authoritative and accessible HOG ISLAND OYSTER LOVER'S COOKBOOK demystifies these enigmatic bivalves and provides the insider's scoop on serving them at home as well as ordering them in an oyster bar.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Cookbook.......2007-08-23

Ms. Pomo has hit the nail on the head. I've tried several recipes, they all were winners! What a suprize!

Enjoying Wine: A Complete Guide to Understanding, Choosing, and Drinking Wine

Average customer rating:

Enjoying Wine: A Complete Guide to Understanding, Choosing, and Drinking Wine
Chris Losh
Manufacturer: Ryland Peters & Small
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Spirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1845972384

Book Description

Many people find the wide variety of wines available rather daunting. But a little knowledge can offer you a world of enjoyment. In "Enjoying Wine", Chris Losh starts by explaining how factors such as soil and climate affect how grape juice develops into wine, and tells you how to find clues to its taste on wine labels. In Where Wine Comes From, Chris takes you around the world from Australia to California, describing how different countries apporach winemaking and what styles they are known for. He looks at Grape Varieties, from Merlot to Muscat, including lists of Famous White and Red Wines. Chris also explores rose, sparkling, and sweet and fortified wines. The next chapter, Choosing Wine, concentrates on matching the right wine to specific occasions and cuisines - invaluable advice, especially when you are facing a restaurant wine list. Finally, Chris offers essential advice on Practicalities, from storing and serving to identifying wine faults. He also describes how to set up your own fun winetasting at home to improve your tasting skills. *All the knowledge you need to enjoy the fruit of the vine, from appreciating classic grape varieties to matching food and wine. *Includes twenty delicious recipes from top food writers incoporating wine, from the classic Coq au Vin to cutting-edge chocolate and Cabernet Pots. *Written in down-to-earth, accessible style by wine writer Chris Losh.

Get Cracking: The Definitive Guide to Choosing, Cooking, and Enjoying Eggs

Average customer rating:

Get Cracking: The Definitive Guide to Choosing, Cooking, and Enjoying Eggs
Alex Barker
Manufacturer: Southwater Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1842154001

Book Description

This colorful and comprehensive photographic identification guide covers all varieties of egg.

Pocket Idiot's Guide to Choosing a Caterer (The Pocket Idiot's Guide)

Average customer rating:

Pocket Idiot's Guide to Choosing a Caterer (The Pocket Idiot's Guide)
Phyllis Cambria , and Patty Sachs
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Professional | Professional Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Party Planning | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Weddings | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Planning | Weddings | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1592571956
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Book Description

The book for every occasion.

For weddings, fundraisers, christenings, birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other special events, this indispensable guide offers everything a host needs to know about hiring a caterer.

€ Catering accounts for the single largest expense of weddings, fundraisers, corporate functions, etc.
€ Private individuals, corporate, and not-for-profit groups spend nearly $5 billion a year on catered services
€ Coverage on choosing a caterer is light at best in current wedding and event-planning books
€ Includes 100 tips on getting the best values from a catered event
€ How to handle contracts, insurance issues, and financing options
€ Discusses specifics from portion size to serving alcohol to gratuities and more

The Mitchell Beazley Red Wine Guide: A Complete Introduction to Choosing Red Wines

Average customer rating:

The Mitchell Beazley Red Wine Guide: A Complete Introduction to Choosing Red Wines
Jim Ainsworth
Manufacturer: Mitchell Beazley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Reference | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1840006285

Book Description

Fully updated for 2002, this no-nonsense Red Wine Guide provides AZ listings of today's vast range of red wine regions, styles, and grapes, and includes a chapter on red-wine producing countries. There are tips on recommended producers, with price bands and quality ratings.

Pocket Idiot's Guide to Choosing Wine (The Pocket Idiot's Guide)

Average customer rating:

Pocket Idiot's Guide to Choosing Wine (The Pocket Idiot's Guide)
Phillip Seldon
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Spirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 002862016X

Wine by Style: A Practical Guide to Choosing Wine by Flavour, Body, and Colour

Average customer rating:

Very helpful
A starting point for exploring your own wine preferences
A nice book to have around

Wine by Style: A Practical Guide to Choosing Wine by Flavour, Body, and Colour
Fiona Beckett
Manufacturer: Mitchell Beazley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier's Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food
What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea - Even Water - Based on Expert Advice from America's Best Sommeliers
The Wine Bible
The Wines of the Northern Rhône
Questions of Taste: The Philosophy of Wine

ASIN: 1845332008

Book Description

This fully revised and updated edition of Wine by Style groups wines by taste rather than country of origin to extend your wine-drinking knowledge and guide you to the bottles you’ll enjoy most. It’s a refreshingly simple and unique way of exploring wine, and a down-to-earth and lively approach to a vast subject. Each chapter covers a main style—from whites and reds to rosés, from champagne and sparkling wines to fortified wines. Fiona Beckett explains the different flavors, and includes a comprehensive list of wines for each style with descriptions of where they are produced, the grapes they’re made from, and what they taste like. There are also useful tasting notes, keys to flavors and price, and a practical chapter on matching wine and food, serving and storing wine, and spotting faulty wines. The influence of climate and soil, and the effect of different winemaking techniques, are explored in full.

Customer Reviews:

Very helpful.......2003-03-28

A quick summary: a wine-flavoured white, red or rose weighing around 750 grammes net is better than any amount of "yellow wine". Other helpful suggestions include how to chill wines (the fridge is my preferred mechanism) and how to drink them (from the bottle is considered poor form in the enclosures on Royal Day at Ascot, as I found to my cost.)

A starting point for exploring your own wine preferences.......2001-08-30

The author has divided the wine world into a manageable number
of intuitive categories. There is also sufficient detail
to distinguish wines within a category. Try some of the
wines in each classification. When you find some you like
you'll have discovered many more you will likely enjoy.
Beyond the author's clever taxonomy is good introductory
material on the basics and beyond. A great reference and
a fun roadmap!

A nice book to have around.......2001-03-05

I have really enjoyed having this book. It's a joy to read and doesn't require me to go from cover to cover. It's not an exhaustive study, but rather has enough information to get me started in understanding a particular style. The book is divided into sections on each style (medium-bodied reds, full-bodied reds, rarities, dessert wines, etc) and in each section she provides an informative listing of the better-known wines in that style. The book itself is of very high quality and has lovely photos so it's fun to flip through.

Herman Miller 1939 Catalog: Gilbert Rohde Modern Design With Value Guide (Schiffer Design Book)
Average customer rating:
Herman Miller 1939 Catalog: Gilbert Rohde Modern Design With Value Guide (Schiffer Design Book)
Leslie Pina
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Furniture | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Furniture & Carpentry | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Herman Miller 1940 Catalog & Supplement: Gilbert Rohde Modern Furniture Design With Value Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

Complete Kagan: Vladimir Kagan--A Lifetime of Avant-Garde Design

Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s

ASIN: 0764305018

Book Description

The Herman Miller Furniture Company was devoted to manufacturing period reproduction furniture until pioneer industrial designer Gilbert Rohde walked into their Grand Rapids showroom in 1930. A devout modernist, Rohde convinced D.J. De Pree to focus on modern furniture throughout the 1930s, and to produce exclusively modern furniture by the time Rohde died in 1944. This exact reprint of the 1939 product catalog from the Herman Miller Archives is an historic document showing hundreds of Art Deco and other classic modern furniture designs, all by Rohde. His use of exotic veneers, tubular steel, bentwood, and plastics was innovative and important in the evolution of modernism. With an added price guide, this catalog will be an invaluable tool for the researcher, collector, dealer, and museum curator.

Celtic Stencil Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art)
Average customer rating:
Celtic Stencil Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art)
Co Spinhoven
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Clip Art | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Commercial | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Celtic Designs for Artists and Craftspeople CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art)

Celtic Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art Series)

Stencil Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art)

Celtic Frames and Borders CD-ROM and Book (Electronic Clip Art Series)

Celtic Cut & Use Stencils: 61 Full-Size Stencils Printed on Durable Stencil Paper

ASIN: 0486996786

Book Description

Stirring images of traditional Celtic art, transformed into a collection of exciting, versatile stencil designs, depict birds and beasts of myth and scripture, elegant abstract designs, and more. Available in a variety of sizes, shapes and complexities, these attractive and dramatic illustrations are ideal for graphic artists, textile designers, and craftspeople. 164 black-and-white illustrations.

Book Description

Emphasizing balance--between yin and yang, as well as comfort and style--in every environment, the ancient Chinese art of feng shui demonstrates how to arrange your home to enhance your fortune, health, and happiness. This room-by-room handbook provides tips for good feng shui and easy fixes for problems in every part of the home, from the kitchen to the study. Line art, charts, & 2-color text throughout.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for an Overview.......2004-01-12

Over the years, a girlfriend and I jokingly gave each other books on Feng Shui as gifts because we love the concept, but laughed at everyone arguing how to pronounce "fung shway". Recently, I decided to pick up these books and incorporate the principles of feng shui in my bedroom redecorating and I found this book to be the easiest one to follow and most useful to grasp the basic concepts. Yes, as other reviews have mentioned, this book does NOT go into detail about specific cures. Its primary focus is on proper furniture placement and does an excellent job of explaining the overall basic concepts of feng shui. A great book to grasp the basics to give an introduction to this fascination concept.

Feng Shui for beginners.......2002-07-15

This book is another book that I read in an effort to get information about Feng Shui. It goes into details and gives quite a bit of information about the history of Feng Shui. It's a good book for a beginner, someone with limited exposure to Feng Shui, who wants to get an idea of what it is. It also offers some practical ideas on where to start to make your life less cluttered, more serene.

The illustrations are well done and easy to understand. Ms. Lagatree obviously researched her subject and knows quite a bit about the subject. She includes all parts of your home, not just focussing on one room/place. She explains the "Ba-Gua basics" in a way that is informative and yet easy to understand. From the beginning, with the history of Feng Shui, to the ending, when she describes garden Feng Shui basics, Ms. Lagatree has done an excellent job of conveying to the reader the ideas behind it.

This is a well written book that is meant to inform and be 'user friendly.'

Marguerite Nico
July 14, 2002

A Good Start, But Too Basic.......2001-02-20

This book contains a great and concise history of Feng Shui, but is written so that it gets kind of confusing as not enough detail is given to remedy situations. For example, I still don't understand this "Pointed Arrow" thing, because wherever I look, I see jutting corners. However, it's an excellent book for beginners like me because of it's broad overview and interesting history.

Change Your Life; Practice Feng Shui.......2000-05-22

In the foreward of this book, Feng Shui is defined and described. There are 8 chapters. The photos included are sketches and are black and white. Some Feng Shui books are quite complicated but this book, however, is rather easy to understand. I would have enjoyed this book more if there had been more sketches demonstrating Feng Shui in the rooms of a house. As it is, you stand wondering if your arrangement of furniture is in accordance to Feng Shui.

At Last Feng Shui Makes Sense!.......2000-04-19

I have tried many books on feng shui and found them really confusing and even a bit weird. Lagatree's book helped me understand what feng shui is and how it works. I've already had good results by following her clear explanations. I highly recommend this book!

5 FENG SHUI Books - 1) Feng Shui for Dummies / 2) Feng Shui: Arranging Your Home Change Your Life / 3) Feng Shui (Elements of Series) / 4) The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui / 5) KISS Guide to Feng Shui

Average customer rating:

5 FENG SHUI Books - 1) Feng Shui for Dummies / 2) Feng Shui: Arranging Your Home Change Your Life / 3) Feng Shui (Elements of Series) / 4) The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui / 5) KISS Guide to Feng Shui
Lillian Too , David Daniel Kennedy , Kwok Man Ho , Kirsten Lagatree , and Stephen Skinner
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VUOVT0

Product Description

5 FENG SHUI Books - 1) Feng Shui for Dummies / 2) Feng Shui: Arranging Your Home Change Your Life / 3) Feng Shui (Elemnts of Series) / 4) The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui / 5) KISS Guide to Feng Shui, in either Hard or Softcover, (See Seller Condition Comments), Shipped in one package to save on shipping costs.

Feng Shui : Arranging Your Home to Change Your Life

Average customer rating:

Feng Shui : Arranging Your Home to Change Your Life
KIRSTEN LAGATREE
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Feng Shui: Arranging Your Home to Change Your Life
Kirsten M. Lagatree
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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